HANSY AND GRITTY (2)

When they arrived at their room, the man instructed Kang Sola to get the room card from his breast pocket. Her hand tickled, but he tried not to show it with his body language. 'Damn, it was hard!'

The door clicked before it opened. He laid the injured on the couch in the receiving area of the family room. She put her legs down on the ground and sat properly.

Xue Guangxi places both hands on her shoulders and stared sternly at her face.

Uneasiness crept through Kang Sola, slowly, like vines crawling around her heart and engulfing it with lovely entwines and interlocking stems with healthy green and golden leaves that tickle her sensitivity as a woman.

She balled her fists, getting ready to punch the man in the face if the situation requires. They are, after all, alone in the room.

Sometimes she forgets that Xue Guangxi was of the opposite gender – a man more than capable of beguiling innocent women when he sets his mind to the task.

'Perhaps he had been gone for too long that I had forgotten how his charms work. That fact never left my head, but experiencing it firsthand… Well, Nah!!!' She tried to shake whatever silliness her mind entertains despite her prudence.

But what her neutral poker face could hide, her berserkly widened eyes could not conceal.

Nevertheless, even if he noticed, the young man did not point it out. He was more concerned and occupied by other matters.

Matters of far greater importance…

…For example, her safety.

She blinked several times, trying to disrupt the connection their locked gazes somehow managed to forge. She bowed her head, still blinking, and darted her lowered gaze to the floor. She straightened up her sitting position and swatted both of the man's hands on her shoulders without force.

But Xue Guangxi held her in place. "Look at me."

"What is it now, Guangxi?" She whispered. Her voice, thin and fragile and barely audible. Perhaps more from the earlier adrenaline pushed a blush on her face.

Perhaps, it wasn't the adrenaline to be blamed.

She tried to swat his hands for the second time, but his grip only tightened, making his point more pronounced.

Either he obeys or she does.

Most of the time, Xue Guangxi always gave in to Kang Sola's whims. Even when his temper wasn't too great to be proud of, at the end of every argument, he lets the girl win.

But in this instance, he wanted to be more assertive.

"You always make me worry, Sola." He breathed with all solemnity, like a prayer. The clasp of his hands on her shoulders tightened. She could feel it. She winced.

Then, without further ceremony or introduction, he pressed her into a tight embrace, full of concern.

Any person would be able to discern if a form of skinship was sincere or not.

Kang Sola could tell his was of genuine care and concern for her.

"You are far more delicate than you think. God, Sola!" He cradled her head with his right hand placed just above her nape. Some of her balayage locks laced his manly fingers.

The lady's heartbeat increased significantly. She tried to breathe in and out. However, caged like this, breathing proved to be such a challenge.

"Hey, Guangxi." She squirmed within his embrace. "I can't breathe. I know you're worried and all, but I think you're overreacting." Her usual normal voice returned. She tried to push him away. "I'm fine."

The man realized how he had been caught up in the moment. He generously obliged to her wishes and defined a gap between them.

His eyes still communicated to those worries that could not be justified with words.

Seeing it in his eyes, Kang Sola could not help but read something else – interpret it for something else.

'No. It couldn't be. Don't get too worked up by the intense look in his expressive eyes. It could mean a spectrum of emotions…' She shook her head.

"Sorry, hehehe." Xue Guangxi scratched his temple. "Anyhow, can you be more careful? You're so fragile!! Geez!!!" He whined like how he used to.

'Phew. That momentous slip is over, I think. Don't make anything out of it.' Kang Sola reminded herself.

"Hehehe. Of course! Of course!" She responded. "There's nothing to worry about."

He extended his hand in a gesture to caress her tiny face. She flinched.

Her reaction did not escape him. He moved his hand back but decided to take another route. He decided to poke her on her forehead.

She closed her eyes in preparation for it.

'Why close your eyes?' He asked only in his mind. 'I could have kissed you right here, right now.'

'And you wouldn't have liked it.' He scowled.

He remembered how much of a fuss she threw when he accidentally stole her first kiss. Anyone who would hear the story would surely side with the girl because it indeed was more of an assault than an innocent smack of teenage lips. He was drunk… Is there a need to further elaborate?

In the end, Kang Sola packed her things and left for Indonesia. She cut all of her connections with Xue Guangxi.

It wasn't until some accidents happened and with the intervention of Xue Guangxi's sister that they were able to mend their friendship.

That was then, and this was now. To make the same mistake twice would be foolishness, especially if he was well-aware of the consequences.

Xue Guangxi struggled to act within the social norm. Index finger protruding, his hand changed stance into a position ready to flick her forehead, but at the last minute, he decided to just poke it.

Kang Sola's head darted a bit back.

When she opened her eyes again, she said, running out of patience, and getting a little bit irked, "What time is it? Stop fooling around. We have to prepare for the talent show this afternoon."

She was oblivious of the internal struggle this goofy man in front of him had just experienced.

"I reckon you already have a plan in mind?" He asked as he slouched on the couch.

"Of course." The lady beamed, stood up, and headed to where her props were stored.

"So… What are we going to do?" He called out to the lady who went inside her room.